My kids don't need another coach yelling from the bleachers. I'm choosing to focus on their love of the game instead.
The author reflects on her experience as a sports mom and the increasing pressure and competitiveness in youth sports. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the joy of playing rather than just winning. By adopting a more laid-back approach, she aims to instill a love for the game in her children.
- ▪The author has been a dedicated sports mom for over 10 years, attending various games to support her children.
- ▪She has observed a growing trend of aggressive behavior from parents and coaches at youth sports events.
- ▪The author is shifting her focus to encourage her kids to enjoy playing sports for the love of the game rather than solely for winning.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
I'm the kind of mom who wears an outfit themed in the color of my kids' uniform on game days, and I'm always saying things from the sidelines like "you got this," and" and "keep it up!" Loading audio narration... For more than 10 years, I've been a sports mom attending basketball, volleyball, and soccer games almost weekly to cheer on my kids. Since they were toddlers, I've been all in, putting in thousands of miles, hours, and dollars to support them.Through it all, there's just one thing that irritates me: the collective obsession over competitiveness and how it ruins the joy of the game. Things have gotten out of handI was a competitive runner in high school, earning a college scholarship for my efforts.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Business Insider.